Hey there Mortals and Morsels!
Halloween time is upon us and there is a TON of fun things to see and do. However, it can get a bit pricey with all the events, haunted attractions and parties to choose from. A Ghoul can go broke celebrating the season!!!
But don’t worry, your favorite Countess is here to give you advice on how to navigate Halloween with maximum fun at minimum cost.
For haunted house fun on a budget, consider checking out some home haunts in your local area. They are free to visit and many have professional quality props and decorations. A fang-tastic source to find home haunts in the Chicagoland area is Chicago Haunt Builders. Sometimes you can even see the displays from your car – great for rainy days!
Wilkes Family Halloween in Bensenville, a home haunt that grew into a town square attraction is a totally free event that has fang-tastic photo-ops and live actors and a DJ on the weekends with tons of convenient free parking too!
Another no-cost event (donations welcome) is Canyon Trail Cemetery in Carol Stream. This yard haunt is HUGE and has many animatronics and special effects. Street parking is plentiful and is viewable at all times. Animations are from dusk til approximately 9-10PM. There are two more yard displays within walking distance which are equally impressive.
If pro haunts are more your speed, check their social media for special discounts. I know this is a little late but make a note for next year – check in August/September because you can usually find entry for up to half-off, even VIP! I bought fast passes to Old Joliet Haunted Prison for $26.99 a $50+ value! Also check Groupon for local discounts.
Park district and church haunts such as Scream Scene in Skokie and The Catacombs at St Pascal in Chicago are a great way to get scared without breaking the bank. Tickets start at $14 with speed passes around $23.
Remember, if you don’t mind a bit of a wait, general admission is the cheapest route to getting your fright on. Also, go early in the season if possible because the closer to Halloween, the more prices go up.
Another festive way to celebrate the fall season is to attend a pumpkin farm. Now be careful because some pumpkin farms charge a huge admission because of rides and stuff, but there are plenty that have no entry fee and their attractions are a la carte. Goebbert’s Pumpkin Farm in South Barrington is usually free to enter Monday-Friday with the option to buy a wristband to see the attractions or you can pay for them separately. They have a cool haunted house which is actually bigger than it looks from the outside and has very good props and lighting. Only $5 and was worth way more! On weekends however, there is a fee to enter the farm section but you can still look at the General Store up front for free.
Another good thing to remember is to try and attend events during weekdays if possible. Prices will be much lower than on weekends and less crowded too, bonus!
Looking for something different? Visit the Wheaton Haunted Halloween Flea Market on October 25th! Admission is $10, and children 12 and under are free with an adult. Plus, you get to meet Count Gregula, and you get to meet ME! There will be a costume contest and goodies galore.
I hope this helps everyone who is looking to have a lot of fun with a little bit of money this Halloween season, because you know we all got to save that money for Christmas! Enjoy!
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